Electron capture detector

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Schematic of an electron capture detector for a gas chromatograph with a 63Ni source.

An electron capture detector (ECD) is a device for detecting atoms and molecules in a gas through the

attachment of electrons via electron capture ionization. The device was invented in 1957 by Dr. James E.
Lovelock[1][2] and is used in gas chromatography to detect trace amounts of chemical compounds in a
sample.[3][4]

[edit]Gas chromatograph detector

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The electron capture detector is used for detecting electron-absorbing components

(high electronegativity) such as halogenal compounds in the output stream of a gas chromatograph. The
ECD uses a radioactive beta particle (electron) emitter, typically a metal foil holding 10 millicuries (370
MBq) of the radionuclide nickel-63. The electrons are formed by collision with nitrogen because
nitrogen exhibits a low excitation energy, so it is easy to remove an electron from a nitrogen molecule.
The electron is then attracted to a positively charged anode, generating a steady current. Therefore,
there is always a background signal present in thechromatogram. As the sample is carried into the
detector by a stream of nitrogen or a 5% methane, 95% argon mixture, analyte molecules absorb the
electrons and reduce the current between the collector anode and a cathode. The analyte concentration
is thus proportional to the degree of electron capture. ECD detectors are particularly sensitive
to halogens, organometallic compounds, nitriles, or nitro compounds.
[edit]Sensitivity

An ECD is 10-1000 times more sensitive than a flame ionization detector (FID), and one million times
more sensitive than a thermal conductivity detector (TCD), but has a limited dynamic range and finds its
greatest application in analysis of halogenated compounds. [citation needed] The detection limit for electron
capture detectors is 5 femtograms per second (fg/s), and the detector commonly exhibits a 10,000-fold
linear range. This made it possible to detect halogenated compounds such as pesticides and CFCs, even
at levels of only one part per trillion (ppt), thus revolutionizing our understanding of the atmosphere
and pollutants.

Electron capture ionization is the ionization of a gas phase atom or molecule by attachment of

an electron to create an ion of the form A–•. The reaction is

where the M over the arrow denotes that to conserve energy and momentum a third body is
required (the molecularity of the reaction is three).

Electron capture can be used in conjunction with chemical ionization.[1]

An electron capture detector is used in some gas chromatography systems.[2]